Ski attachment



Ju y 1940- H. G. FORTUNE SKI ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 15, 1939 INVENTOR f-[az-oZc! 6? Er Za ATI QNEY Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SKI ATTACHMENT Harold G. Fortune, Scarborough, N. Y.

Application December 15, 1939, Serial No. 309,339

- 6 Claims.

the brakes so that they will readily yield in case such obstruction is struck during the downward descent. At the same time the projections are made rigid against backward movement of the skis, so that in no case can the brakes be released during ascent of the slope.

My attachment is also so constructed as not to give added friction to the ski nor to weaken the same. It is also so constructed as to be readily moved from its normally inoperative position to its operative position.

Referring to the drawing, showing the preferred form of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ski with my improved attachment secured thereto and with the braking blades shown in the turned down, or operative position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view from the opposite end,

y showing the blades in the raised or inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device with the blades raised.

As shown, my attachment comprises a base plate I which may be screwed to the top of the ski 20, preferably in front of the toe 2| of the skier. A hinge 2 is provided at the rearward portion of said plate for the hinged plate 3 which carries the blades 4 and 5 which, in their operative position as shown in Fig. 1, extend downwardly below the under surface of the ski to project into the snow. In order that the attachment may be adjusted to diiferent widths of skis, I have shown the blades as adjustably mounted on the hinged plate 3. For this purpose, the plate 3 is shown as provided with oppositely extending ears 6 and 1, preferably channeled to form guides for the flat lateral extensions or base portions 8 and 9 of the blades. Each base portion is shown as provided with a slot I 0 through which a set screw or screws ll extend, which are threaded into a threaded hole in each ear 6 and 1. It will readily be seen that by loosening the screws the blades maybe adjusted inwardly and outwardly to adjust the attachment for different sized skis, and then clamped in position by tightening the screws.

The downwardly projecting portion of each blade is shown as extending at an obtuse angle to the top of the ski and to the base portions 8 and 9, and springs I2 and I3 are provided to yieldingly hold the blades in this position, as shown in Fig. 1. Said springs are preferably secured to the fiat or base portion of each blade and to a point 22 on the ski well below the top thereof and slightly in front of the hinge 2.

Stop means, acting between hinged plate 3 or blade assembly and the base I, are also provided to limit the backward movement of the blades when in the raised position (see Figs. 2 and 3). Such stop means may be in the form of an upstanding ear or abutment I3 provided on each base plate I, against which the back of hinged plate 3 is held by the springs when raised as shown in Fig. 2. This abutment I3 is preferably only about half as high as, or less, the top .of the toe of the skiers boot.

In the operative position, as shown in Fig. 1, therefore, the springs hold the blades down into the snow at a slight angle, but if an obstruction is encountered during the descent the blades will be tilted backwardly instantly, the springs yielding to permit the object to be passed over without causing the skier to fall. With this construction, also, the springs will hold the ski yield ingly in its inoperative position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, against the abutment l3, since the point 22 is slightly in front of the hinge pin 2. Preferably, that portion of the springs l2 and I 3 which lies below the top of the ski lies close to the side of the ski so as not to dip down into the snow during use, especially when the blades are in the inoperative position.' To this end, the coil portion of the spring stops short at the top of the ski and a singlewire 23 extends downwardly to the point where it screw 22 to the side of the ski.

From the foregoing the operation of my ski attachment should be obvious. In ascending a is secured by a steep slope, the skier turns the blades to the position shown in Fig. 1 where they act as positive, fixed brakes to prevent backward movement. In descending a moderate slope, the device is put in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the device will offer no resistance to descent. In case the slope is too steep, the skier flips the blades downward by hand or otherwise, and in this position they will act as a yielding brake with no danger of upsetting the skier, as explained.

As manychanges could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely difierent embodiments of this invention could be made Without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter containedin the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a. limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A ski attachment comprising a base member adapted to be attached to the ski, a stop thereon, a plate hinged at its forward end thereto and adapted, when down, to rest on top of the ski andto lean back against said stop when raised, a blade on the rear portion of said plate and extending downwardly at the side of the ski below the bottom thereof when said plate is down, and spring means for holding said blade and plate yieldingly in either said down position or raised position.

2. A ski attachment comprising a member adapted to be attached to the ski, a plate hinged thereto at the forward end of said plate, stop means acting between said plate and member, said plate being adapted, when down, to rest on top of the ski and to rest against said stop means when raised, a pair of spaced blades at each side of said plate extending downwardly below the ski when down, and a spring secured to each side of the ski .and to said blades for holding the same yieldingly in either their down or raised position.

3. A ski attachment as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one blade is adjustably mounted on said base plate to adapt the attachment for skis of difierent width.

4. A ski attachment including spaced bearing members and a blade carrying member hinged thereto at its forward end adapted to rest on top of the ski, blades depending from said member, and spring means for yieldingly holding said blades down, and adapted, when said member and blades are revolved upwardly about said pivot, to hold said blades in an inoperative position.

5. A ski attachment as claimed in claim 4, in which said spring means cdmprise a pair of coil springs secured at their lower ends to the sides of the ski and at their upper ends to said blades, each spring having a straight portion adjacent its lower end, whereby engagement of the coils with the snow when the blades are raised is avoided.

6, A ski attachment as claimed in claim 2, wherein both blades are adjustably mounted on said base plate to adapt the attachment for skis of difierent width.

HAROLD G. FORTUNE. 

